Ed Sterling from Bolton has had a lifelong interest in history, especially that of trains and railroads. He has studied the history of the Central Mass Railroad extensively and the role it played in the building of the Wachusett Reservoir.
“What began as stewardship led to the discovery of a historic gem that should be restored and preserved.”
— Denis Wagner, former president and current board member of the Harvard Historical Society.
Carlene Phillips has been a writer for the Harvard Press and is the co-author of two historical biographies for young adults.
Joe Theriault has been an invaluable member of the Harvard community as a historian, preservation activist, author, editor, and speaker
Ned Quist, a retired academic librarian, gave an illustrated talk about the changes the Shakers made to the landscape of northeastern Harvard, showing what used to be there between 1791 and 1917 and the few buildings that remain today.
The Harvard Historical Society hosted the Harvard Fire Department to clebrate the department’s 100th anniversary. The program featured a film created by Harvard resident, producer/filmmaker, and firefighter, Robert Curran. The evening opened with the arrival of “Antiquey,” driven by Lt. Tony Shaw, and Engine 1 at the front of the Meetinghouse.
Open House at the Harvard Historical Society featuring our permanent Shaker Collection and a unique Shaker desk on loan to the society. The members prepared a few Shaker Recipes that could be tasted during this event.
People were invited to admire a newly arrived Shaker Desk, on loan to the society, and learn about two special Shakers who might have used it.
Gavin Klein was artist-in-residence at the society from 2020 to 2022, keeping the newly restored 1870 Stevens organ in tune and in use.
On Sunday, October 17, the Autoneers Frostbite Tour went through Harvard, and drivers stopped briefly at the Historical Society to view the building and collections. Their antique cars parked outside the meetinghouse created an authentic scene from the early 20th century.
Joe Theriault’s talk related the story of Acadia, the first French colony to be settled in North America, and the unwilling role that the Lancaster militia, with some Harvard members, played in Acadian history.
On September 25, 2021, we celebrated the unique history of the Harvard Common: the people, places, and events that help tell the story of Harvard’s identity. The program took place on the Common.
When the Covid 19 pandemic hit us in early 2020, observing social distancing became a way to protect against the virus. But, as Doug Cregar humorously depicts in this video with pictures from the Historical Society’s archives, social distancing had long been observed by town residents.
A history of the Still River Baptist Church, 215 Still River Road, now home of the Harvard Historical Society. This account was written in 1993.
